Oscar Ruiz-Schmidt’s New Costa Rican Volcano Tapestry Series

Volcanoes in Textile Form

Oscar Ruiz-Schmidt, Orosi, Tapestry

Oscar Ruiz-Schmidt’s new tapestry series presents Costa Rica’s volcanoes as layered, textural compositions, bringing a sculptural dimension to the landscape through tufted wool. The works range from pared-down abstractions to more defined cross-sections, where the geological structures beneath the surface are as present as the visible peaks above. In some, the volcano appears dormant, its contours suggested through shifts in depth and density. In others, eruption is implied through bursts of colour and variation in texture, giving the natural formations a distinct sense of movement.

Rather than attempting to replicate the appearance of these landmarks, Ruiz-Schmidt treats them as subjects with their own character. From Rincón de la Vieja, to Irazú, the works in the volcano series exist beyond static imagery, shaping their surroundings through centuries of activity. Through textile, a medium inherently linked to touch and use, these formations are brought into the context of contemporary interiors, where they function both as design elements and as reflections on the landscapes that define Costa Rica’s topography.

Read on to discover more about Oscar Ruiz-Schmidt’s latest volcano tapestry series and work, where contemporary textile art engages with Costa Rica’s volcanic landscapes.

Textiles in Contemporary Art

Textile art in Latin America is connected to tradition, labour, and material knowledge, yet in recent years it has also become a significant medium within contemporary art and design. Ruiz-Schmidt’s tapestries exist within this space—maintaining a connection to craft and technique while asserting themselves as modern objects. The process of tufting allows for variation in depth and surface, giving the works a tactile quality that changes with light and perspective.

Oscar Ruiz-Schmidt, Rincón de la Vieja 2, Tapestry

While Costa Rica’s volcanoes are a well-documented subject in landscape painting and photography, Ruiz-Schmidt’s decision to translate them into woven compositions introduces a different form of engagement. The wool itself echoes the textures found in the natural world, from rough surfaces of volcanic rock to the movement of sediment layers beneath the ground.

From Volcanic Landscapes to Liberia’s White Soil

The artist’s material-driven practice is also shaped by the region in which he grew up—Liberia, Guanacaste, often referred to as La Ciudad Blanca (The White City). The area is characterised by its distinctive white soil, formed by ancient volcanic deposits that have left behind light-coloured minerals. Once used to pave Liberia’s streets and seen in the whitewashed colonial architecture, this natural phenomenon continues to influence Ruiz-Schmidt’s work.

Alongside his volcano tapestry series, Ruiz-Schmidt has developed a homeware collection that reflects the tones and textures of this landscape. Working with natural fibres and sustainable materials, he applies the same attention to process and tradition, ensuring that each object—whether woven wall art or functional design—reflects its origins and a contemporary sensibility. His work stands in contrast to mass production, advocating for ethical, slow design that values craftsmanship and longevity over trend-driven aesthetics.

Oscar Ruiz-Schmidt, Rincón de la Vieja, Tapestry

The white soil around Liberia is also referenced in a 2023 tapestry titled Rincón de la Vieja. Here, Liberia's distinctive white soil juxtaposes chalky, mineral-rich tones with vivid bursts of colour, representing the volcanic forces at work beneath the surface. The lower section suggests geological layers, where fissures of molten lava in deep red and orange break through the earth. A zigzagging fault line cuts through the composition, emphasizing the landscape’s ever-shifting nature. Above, a plume of smoke curls from the crater, dissipating into the textured white wool that dominates the upper portion of the tapestry, evoking the heat and energy that define this volcanic terrain.

MÍRAME Fine Art: A New Perspective on Costa Rican Landscapes

MÍRAME Fine Art is pleased to present this series as part of its commitment to promoting artists who reinvent traditions within contemporary practice. Ruiz-Schmidt’s work offers an alternative way of considering Costa Rica’s most iconic landscapes, using textile as a means of reinterpreting their presence.

The volcano tapestry series will be available through MÍRAME Fine Art, where anyone around the world can explore how Ruiz-Schmidt’s works balance the sculptural and the pictorial, offering a fresh take on the country’s geological history.

MÍRAME Contact Information:

MÍRAME Fine Art Email: [email protected] Follow: Facebook | Instagram